Chelsea will aim to bounce back from Champions League elimination when they face an Everton side attempting to win successive home games for the first time at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes ahead of Saturday's meeting on Merseyside (17:30 GMT).

On 16 June last year, Chelsea kicked off a campaign in which they were targeting trophies in five different competitions by taking part in the Club World Cup.

That tournament ended in silverware after the Blues defeated Paris Saint-Germain in the final. Eight months later, their hopes of more international glory were ended after they were eliminated by PSG in thle last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Chelsea have an FA Cup quarter-final to look forward to against Port Vale next month but their immediate attention turns towards an opportunity to climb the Premier League table and a route straight back into Europe's elite club competition.

A win against Everton could move Chelsea as high as fourth by Saturday night should Liverpool slip up at Brighton in the early kick-off. Even if Arne Slot's side win, Chelsea can climb into fifth with Aston Villa not in action until Sunday.

Fewer competitions may even mean fewer changes to their starting XI for a club who have made more than any other in this season's Premier League.

A table of Opta data showing the amount of changes made by Premier League teams in 2025-26

Image caption,

Chelsea have made 11 more changes than any other Premier League side this season

While at least some rotation should be expected, head coach Liam Rosenior may well be tempted to keep Joao Pedro in his starting line-up. The 24-year-old has scored seven goals and assisted one in his past eight appearances away from home in all competitions.

Chelsea next face an Everton team still trying to adjust to their new surroundings on the banks of the River Mersey.

The Toffees have impressed away from home in the Premier League, although their form at Hill Dickinson Stadium has been deeply inconsistent, with the win against Burnley last time out ending a run of six home matches without a win.

Everton's victory against the Clarets was a first at the Hill Dickinson in 2026 and means the Toffees can target maiden back-to-back home victories at their new stadium in the Premier League for the first time.

David Moyes has referenced that visiting teams find the state-of-the-art facility at Bramley Moore Dock more hospitable than the often intimidating surroundings of Goodison Park, although Everton's manager will hope to continue the club's good home record in this fixture. They have lost just one of the past eight Premier League home meetings with Chelsea, winning five and drawing two.

If Joao Pedro is likely to be influential for the visitors, the same can be said for Toffees midfielder James Garner, a key operator home and away this season.

This graphic displays defensive statistics for Premier League players during the 2025-26 season, specifically ranking them by total tackles and interceptions

Image caption,

Everton midfielder James Garner leads the way for all Premier League players in terms of breaking up opposition attacks

The 25-year-old has made more tackles and interceptions combined than any other Premier League player in this campaign, while he's just as effective on the ball, ranking top of Everton's metrics for chances created (43) and successful passes (1,213). Only Jack Grealish (five) has more assists (six) for the Blues in 2025-26.

Garner once again showed his versatility by starting at right-back in the late defeat at Arsenal last weekend – a flexibility that could see him earn his first England honours, according to former Everton midfielder Leon Osman.

But if Everton are to secure elusive successive victories, they may also need their attacking players to flourish. The Toffees have failed to score in 12 of their past 19 Premier League games against Chelsea, including the past four in a row. (BBC)

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